Hundreds protest to support Sultan

YOGYAKARTA: Hundreds of people, including becak (pedicab) drivers, street vendors, housewives, transvestites, students, and lawyers, demonstrated yesterday in a show of support for the popular traditional monarch Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X to become the province's next governor.

Gathering outside the provincial legislature, they castigated the legislators for failing to formally propose a single candidate for the governorship.

They also demanded that the legislature fight to preserve the special status accorded the ancient province. Legislator Subagyo Waryadi of the Armed Forces faction -- which supports Sri Sultan's candidacy -- met the protesters.

They criticized the legislators whose deliberations on the subject had dragged on since last month.

Separately, Sri Sultan urged the legislators to make haste lest they risk inciting the people's wrath.

The dominant Golkar faction and the Armed Forces faction have agreed to nominate Sri Sultan for governor, but the United Development Party has nominated its local chairman, Alfian Darmawan.

The legislature has yet to announce which candidates it is putting forward to the central government. There has been no explanation for the delay. (23/44)